Queen Camilla’s son shares the truth about royal Christmas traditions—and explains why he has never been a guest.

With the countdown to Chrismas now officially on, attention will be returning to the Royal Family’s festive celebrations.

Traditionally, all members of the Firm head to the Sandringham estate for the big day where they are pictured on their annual walk to church on Christmas morning before they head back for a traditional festive feast.

Since he became monarch two years ago, King Charles has kept many of the traditions of royal Christmas – with Queen Camilla at his side. However, despite reports suggesting otherwise, Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has revealed he hasn’t yet joined in with the festivities at Sandringham.

In an interview with People magazine, the food writer revealed: “We are married in, we are not the royal family – I’ve never for one second said that. I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly and we’ve know them all for a long time. It does seem natural. That’s not to say myself and the children spend running around palaces. I have my own job and the children have school. I haven’t been to Christmas yet for various reasons.”

But despite not travelling to Sandringham, Tom did reveal that he and his children, Camilla’s beloved grandchildren, do get to spend some time with her at Christmas as she and her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, Tom’s dad, hold a post-Christmas bash.

He explained: “My mother and father are still great friends and we will go down on December 27 and my mother will sometimes come. It is something to work towards. It’s a maturity that is a great thing if — despite a marriage sometimes not working –you can keep it together for the sake of the children and the sake of each other then it’s a very good thing.”